How do you cope with nervousness in a job interview? Here are some tips

Anushka Chaurasia completed her post-graduate diploma from Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC) this year. After pursuing Corporate Communication and Event Management at the institute, she is now working as Executive-Internal Communications, Info Edge India. Having started her professional journey recently, the Apeejay alumna is looking forward to new opportunities and experiences. In an interview, she talks about how she cracked her job interview, how her mentors prepared her, and more. Edited excerpts:

What got you interested in Corporate Communications and Event Management?

After completing my graduation, I was looking for a good course. That is when I came across this course that was being offered by AIMC. Upon researching, I realised I had the required skill set to pursue a career in Corporate Communications and Event Management. That is why I opted for the same.

Did you get your job from the college placements? In what ways did your mentors prepare you for job interviews?

Yes, I secured my current job at the campus placements. My interview was conducted virtually. To prepare us, our mentors conducted mock interviews with us. They were scheduled every week based on which our professors would review the interview and share their remarks with us in terms of where we could improve. The mock interviews helped us gain more confidence. Our mentors helped us list the frequently asked questions in an interview which we then prepared accordingly. So, when the actual job interview happened, we were fluent and prepared to answer all questions—we had a fair idea of what and how to say.  

Also Read: ‘Have clear vision and intent before appearing for a job interview’

It is quite common to feel nervous during the actual interview, no matter how well you prepare. Did you experience the same?

We were prepared for this as well. In fact, our mentors told us there could be a situation in an interview where we may not be prepared for a certain question. Or, the fact that we were in the interview room could make us shaky. They shared some tricks with us to cope with it.

What does your job at Info Edge entail?

My work involves employee engagement and coordinating events for them. We also have an employee education portal, which is something I also handle. In other words, I handle the communication happening within the company, including collaborative activities, employee training, etc.

Overall, what kind of exposure did AIMC give and prepare you for the journey ahead?

The field I chose was completely new to me initially; I did not have much awareness of the industry either. Apeejay prepared me very well and the knowledge that I gained is coming in handy today in my profession. I got to learn a lot about the industry and even got the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, which, in turn, prepared me better. Working as a group on college projects was very helpful. In my current job too, I am able to exercise my understanding of teamwork while working with colleagues. I know how to deal with tough situations and that is because of my training at Apeejay.

In terms of industry exposure, the college organised guest lectures every month. In these sessions, we got many industry insights that you cannot learn otherwise. These sessions helped me understand the world of corporate communications better.